The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for Goa and Union Territories would hold a public hearing on Wednesday to receive suggestions on the tariff at which energy can be purchased from the proposed solar plant by a private firm and incrementation of surcharge by the Electricity Department.
The interactive meet will take place at the Puducherry Multipurpose Social Service Society (PMSSS) complex at Laporte Street at 10 am.
Saheli Exports (Private) Limited, appointed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Sources, has taken steps to set up a one mega watt solar photovoltaic power plant at Karaikal. The private firm has stated that the capital cost of the project would be around `18.42 crore and demanded for fixation of tariff of `20.50 per unit.
The electricity department, after discounting Generation Based Incentive (GBI) given by the Central Government, may have to purchase power at around `5.50 per unit.
The public are requested to offer their comments on the tariff before the JERC.
The Electricity Department is obligated to purchase a certain percentage of total energy consumed in a year from renewable energy sources.
Around fifteen lakh units of energy per annum would be available for sale from the solar power project.
It may be recalled that with a view to promote generation of power from solar energy sources, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Sources had introduced Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) in June 2010.
The Ministry had selected two firms — Saheli Exports Private Ltd and Sangameswara Private Ltd — for setting up one mega watt solar PV power plant each at Devamapuram village and Thirunallar in Karaikal in the Union Territory of Puducherry.